Dr. Daniel Funk, a world leader in consumer behavior research for sport and related industry sectors, has joined Temple Univeristy's School of Tourism and Hospitality Management and its Sport Industry Research Center from Griffith University in Australia. Funk, a full professor with tenure, also holds a joint appointment in Temple’s Fox School of Business
A leading researcher on the individual and environmental factors that explain sportinvolvement, Funk has taught courses in sport marketing, sport promotions and communications, sport consumer behavior, and event marketing and sponsorship at Griffith University, the University of Texas at Austin and theUniversity of Louisville.
“I’m very excited about working at Temple and joining the STHM faculty,” Funk said. “The Sport and Recreation program within the school is fast becoming a leader in research and teaching at the national and international level. This momentum, combined with the Philadelphia community, provides a unique opportunity to continue my work and enjoy a great lifestyle.”
With research expertise ranging from sport television media to sport motivations, Funk has participated in nearly 20 grant-funded studies. Currently, he is serving as a chief investigator on two Australian government research projects, with total funding of $1.16 million. One project, funded in part by the Australian Football League, examines the impact of new professional sporting teams on community engagement and fan development. The second project seeks to improve qualifications for Australian sports talent classification.
In the United States, Funk is working with Temple colleagues on two funded projects. The first is with Back on My Feet, a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations in various cities by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. The second is with US Road Sports & Entertainment Group to evaluate the impact of mass participant sport events. His research offers marketing and management solutions to businesses, communities and governments that provide sport, tourism, event and recreation services or products.
Funk has written a refereed scholarly book, a sport marketing textbook, an industry book and has written or contributed to more than 60 articles published in a variety of journals, including Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Leisure Research, Tourism Management, Leisure Sciences, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Sport Management Review, Sport Marketing Quarterly and Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management.
His articles have ranged from a case study of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the impact of the 2002 FIFA World Cup on spectators in Japan, an examination of gender differences among sport spectators at NCAA basketball games, an exploration of participant motives at Lance Armstrong Foundation events, segmentation of running involvement among Miami Marathon participants, and travel decision-making for international participants of the Gold Coast Marathon and European Athletic Championships.
Funk earned his PhD and master’s degree in sport management from The Ohio State University and his bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Kansas. Prior to academia, he developed and promoted recreational sport programs and special events.